GREEN LABEL SCHEME

Mr Simon S C Tay asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider broadening the Green Labelling Scheme to advise consumers against products connected with companies causing or contributing to the haze pollution.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the objective of the Green Labelling Scheme is very specific. It is to recognise selected consumer products which are more environmentally friendly. The scheme encourages companies to be environmentally friendly in a positive way rather than discriminate against particular products or companies. This is in line with similar eco-labelling schemes introduced in other countries, and we should not depart from international practice by broadening it.

Mr Simon Tay: Would the Minister like to elaborate how it is different in favouring an environmentally friendly product from disfavouring an environmentally unfriendly product?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the differences are huge. One is the scheme encourages a positive effort and it poses no threat to the other companies that have not received the green label. The approach that is being proposed by Mr Tay has very adverse implications. In fact, one of the great concerns expressed by many countries, especially developing countries, is that some countries, especially the developed countries, may resort to using environmental measures as a disguise for protectionistic measures, and the approach that has been proposed by Mr Tay would set a very uncomfortable precedent.

Mr Simon Tay: In view that companies may use land clearing by fire as a cheaper means while other companies use more expensive means, would it not be fair to reward the companies which use more expensive and non-pollutive means by awarding them a Green Label to recognise their good efforts towards reducing the haze problem, rather than lumping them together with environmentally harmful companies?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the Green Labelling Scheme or eco-labelling schemes that have been adopted internationally do contain certain criteria. We will also abide by those criteria. I think it is not wise to mix up all these criteria with a specific incident, which is the use of fires to clear land. It is better that that problem be resolved in a proper way, ie, if those methods for clearing land are illegal, then the country involved takes the necessary actions to enforce their laws against those companies. This is what the Regional Haze Action Plan sets out to do.

Mr Simon Tay: What then can the Singaporean individual or the Singapore Government do beyond hoping that the Indonesian government will fulfil their obligations?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: First, we will have to await word from the Indonesian Government as to which are the companies that are guilty. After that, it is left to the public to decide what they want to do. But as the Government, we would not want to engage in any precedent setting approach which may be used in a very detrimental way against economies around the world.